Home-Start offers a volunteer, who is also a parent, to visit the family’s home. Our volunteers understand the joys and frustrations of bringing up children, because they have been there too.

 

The volunteer normally visits once a week for two to three hours, sharing their time and friendship over as long a period as necessary. What exactly the volunteer does depends on the family's particular needs. He or she might spend time with a young parent, helping to build their confidence as they adapt to life with a young baby. Or go to the park with a family who finds getting out of the house difficult. The visits mighr involve offering an extra pair of hands to a family with several children, or simply providing a listening ear to someone who finds parenting a challenge. It all depends on what will most help the family.

 

The aim in the longer term is to prepare the family so they will eventually be able to cope without Home-Start support, but there is no time limit for this. It may be a couple of months – or it may be a couple of years.